Real Life is Better Than Fiction

Wait. That’s not one of my favorite words. When I first began writing, I would send something to a publisher and…wait. I would just about pounce on the mailman when he came. “(Yes, this was before the Internet and email!) Even after I began sending things out by email, there was a lot of impatient waiting, checking my inbox several times a day. I wish I could say I had conquered this issue 100%, but not really. The key to writing is to not spend time waiting. I need to e working on the next thing in the meantime. The same is true of our Christian lives. Many days we send p a request to God and spend (waste) our time waiting. That’s not how it should be. We should be moving on to something else. While we are waiting for God’s answers we need to be worshiping and serving. That’s what the Song of the Week is about. Give a listen… 

You can download a free copy of this  to-do list at Misfit Isle I don’t know about you, but I sometimes feel like I struggle with laziness. I’m not sure if it’s that I am in fact lazy, or that I’m disappointed at the end of the day when I haven’t been able to cross everything off my list.(I’m definitely a list maker!) I don’t know if it’s because I work at home, that sometimes it’s easy to get distracted from work. I’m a writer, editor, and book reviewer. All of those cause me to sit. Either way, it’s something I’ve taken to God. Over the last several months I’ve prayed each morning for productive day, free of laziness. God has helped me by nudging me to do “one more thing.” Each day, when I attempt to sit and do nothing, I tell myself, “one more thing” and I find one more thing to accomplish. Then there is that afternoon slump. There are many afternoons I feel like I could simply lay down and take a nap. Because I work at home it would be so easily done. The one good thing a...

There seems to be an awful lot of word slinging lately, sometimes in surprising places. Everyone has an opinion about everything and they aren’t afraid to share it not matter how they sound or who they hurt. Yes, I have definite opinions about everything that’s happening in the news; however, I don’t scream my opinion to everyone on the Internet. I think most people who know me, know exactly where I stand on many of these issues. If someone wants to sit down and have a discussion (without bashing and hollering) I would be glad to. When you scream your opinion at everyone, soon everyone stops listening. Words are something we use on a daily basis. I use mine for work. I want my words to be carefully chosen. I know that sometimes the words that come out of my mouth are not the ones that should. I think that’s why I enjoy writing…I can go back and scribble out the words that shouldn’t be there. Unfortunately, I can’t do that with my mouth. This week, listen to the song, and then...

I haven’t done a Real Life post in a while and thought it was time. I had actually forgotten about it until one of my son’s friends reminded me. I usually have stories about people stopping by my house to use the bathroom, but not this time. Last summer, I was busy working when my husband came home for lunch. After he left, he sat in his truck outside the house for a few minutes. I didn’t really think anything of it as this is normal for him. When the phone rang, I answered. “Lock the door, quick!” It was him. I saw a woman just standing in front of our house looking at it. For those of you who have never been to our house, it’s pretty much all open, especially during the summer. The curtains are open, the windows are open. I quickly went to do as my husband requested. I barely made it. The woman was at my front door trying to open it. I didn’t even have time to lock it, so I just held the lock so she couldn’t enter without knocking. I scrunched down on the floor by t...

My heart is heavy for so many of my friends and family members. Many are going through any number of difficulties whether physical, emotional, or mental. This song is for all of you this week. I don’t want to name anyone as some of the difficulties are private. I just want you to know that someone is praying for you and that there is Someone you can call out to in your time of need.

My guest author today is Kelli Hughett. Kelli was raised in Colorado where she and her husband are now raising and homeschooling their three kids. Kelli writes suspense with His fingerprints all over it when she isn’t tending the chickens and the garden or speaking to women’s groups. Faith and Family are the most common notes in the soundtrack of her life. You can catch up with Kelli, read devotionals and random thoughts, or book a speaking engagement at http://www.kellihughett.com . Thanks for visiting with us today, Kelli! For anyone who is interested, simply click on the cover to purchase a copy of her book. Tell us a little about yourself and share something about your day-to-day life that might help a reader to feel as though they know you a little better. I’m married to the minister and have three exuberant kids! I live in rural northern Colorado in full view of the Rocky Mountains. My friends call me an urban farm-girl, but’s that isn’t indicative of my success in t...

My guest author today is Lori Stanley Roeleveld. She is the author of the devotional book Running from a Crazy Man. I think Jerry Jenkins explains it best with: So you were hoping for a cheery devotional that would warm your heart, put a grin on your face, and remind you to count your blessings as you climb, climb up sunshine mountain as heavenly breezes blow? Guess what? You picked up the wrong book. On the other hand, I’ll bet you can’t read just one of Lori’s bite-sized reflections. There’s plenty of sugar to help the medicine go down. As soon as you peek ahead and think, I’m not sure I want to face this particular truth, you remember that the last time you thought that, Lori made it palatable with the right dash of humor, pathos or ah-ha. Then you’ll find yourself saying, as I said: “All right, just one more. And one more. And one more.” Jerry B. Jenkins Here is an excerpt from her book. Click on the cover to purchase a copy. Following J...

My guest author today is Jayme H. Mansfield. Keep reading to find out more about her, her writing, and her book, Chasing the Butterfly.  When you're done, show Jayme a little love and leave her a comment. You can also grab a copy of her book by clicking on the cover below. When did you first discover that you were a writer?  The first time I found myself in “the zone” was when I knew I had found my passion to write. Hours and hours went unnoticed and turned into full days in front of the computer. Ironically, for being an extravert, I discovered a wonderful place—to be by myself, creating new stories. What inspired Chasing the Butterfly? The initial seeds for the story grew out of writing assignments for the Christian Writers Guild and my personal passions for painting and traveling to France numerous times. But after that, I was inspired to persevere and complete the novel as a personal journey and challenge. At some (often many) junctures of our lives, we ...

I can’t tell you how many times in my life where I had been at a loss for words in prayer. It might be a difficult situation I am going through myself. It might be something a loved one is dealing with. It may be a situation where I was asked to pray one way, but I’m not sure what God wants. In all of these situations, I go to one of my favorite passages of Scripture, Romans 8:26, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” I find that verse a comfort. I can just close my eyes and open up my heart to God. I don’t have to say a word. He knows what I’m feeling. He knows the conflict within my soul. He knows how my heart is breaking. The song this week fits this perfectly. Whatever you are going through, whenever you don’t have the words to say, all you have to say is, “Jesus!”

My guest author today is Debra Coleman Jeter. She is a Vanderbilt University professor who has published fiction and nonfiction in popular magazines, including Working Woman, New Woman, Self, Home Life, Savvy, Christian Woman , and American Baby . Her story, “Recovery,” won first prize in a Christian Woman short story competition, and her nonfiction book Pshaw, It’s Me Grandson: Tales of a Young Actor was a finalist in the 2007 USA Book News Awards. She is a co-writer of the screenplay for Jess + Moss, a feature film which premiered in 2011 at the Sundance Film Festival, screened at nearly forty film festivals around the world, and captured several international awards. She lives in Clarksville, Tennessee, with her husband. Tell us about The Ticket: Tray Dunaway longs to be part of the popular set at school, but she's growing too fast and her clothes no longer fit right. When she wears Gram's hand-sewn clothes to school, the kids make fun of her tall, boney appe...

I am pleased to be able to have a guest author on my blog today. Nan Jones is an author/speaker who uses the words of her heart to assist fellow Christians in discovering the Presence of God in their darkest hour. Her devotional blog, Morning Glory, has become a place of community for Christians to find encouragement in God’s Word and comfort in His Presence. She has been published in several anthologies as well as the online inspirational sites Christian Devotions, and Inspire a Fire. Nan has also had the honor of being featured as a guest blogger on several sites. She is thrilled to announce her debut book, The Perils of a Pastor's Wife released June 30, 2015 by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. When Nan is not writing, she enjoys leading prayer retreats, bible studies or sharing God’s love as keynote speaker for special events. She is becoming known by her brand: "Even so, I walk in the Presence of the Lord" as she teaches her audience to go beyond the veil to ...